Ninety Nine percent (99%) or 131 Local Government Units (LGUs) in Central Visayas inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the data sharing and utilization of poor household.

All towns and cities in Cebu had already signed the MOA as well as the 25 LGUs of Negros Oriental and 6 LGUs in Siquijor.

The town of Loay has yet to sign the MOA to complete all LGUs in Bohol.

“Partnering with the LGUs and other social protection stakeholders is of great importance in order to effectively implement the various poverty alleviation programs and services,” said Regional Director Mercedita Jabagat.

The data was gathered through the Listahanan or National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR), an information management system of the DSWD that identifies who and where the poor are in the country.

Given the limited resources of the government, the agency recognizes the need to have a clear basis for identifying the poor and where they are to ensure that the resources are directed to those who need them the most.

“Listahanan, Talaan ng Pamilyang Nangangailangan, is the first of its kind in the Philippines where we give a face and a name to the poor household.” Jabagat added.

The database of poor households shows various poverty thresholds like the composition of poor households, the household members’ highest educational attainment and occupation, features of the housing structure and access to basic services or facilities like water, electricity, and sanitary toilet, households’ ownership of assets, tenure status of housing among others.

“Hence, I urged LGUs and NGOs to use the available data to formulate appropriate social protection programs and services specifically to address the welfare of the poor.” Jabagat emphasized.

The Provincial Government of Bohol and Negros Oriental had also signed a MOA with the office. The 1st Congressional District of Negros Oriental and Bohol as well as the 4th Congressional District of Cebu had also been shared with the database.

Other than the government agencies, NGOs like the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), Outreach Program on Trainings, Integral Organizing and Networking for Solidarity Inc. (OPTIONS), Alay Lakad Foundation, and Euphrasia Parent Association Inc. have also signed a pact with the office for its use.

Every four years the data collected is updated. There will be a second round of household assessment this coming September and October. (PR – Kerwin Macopia)